From the "README.html" file:
> Hephaestus is a freeware computer role-playing game construction kit
> (often called an "RPG maker"). A map editor is included, and
> scripting is done in the Java programming language. Hephaestus is
> written in Java, and therefore runs on every platform.
>
> You've wanted to make your own computer role-playing game all your
> life. Hephaestus 2 makes it easier than ever to make any adventure
> you can imagine. Use your own art and sounds, or use the standard
> libraries. Make "static" maps with the map editor, or create your
> maps entirely with code - even making mazes and dungeons that are
> different every time you play. There's never been a better time to
> start writing your own CRPG!
>
> Hephaestus 2 now includes the post-holocaust horror adventure,
> Umbra! After the Great Old Ones return to reclaim the Earth, the few
> survivors cower in towns hidden in the wilderness, or have given
> themselves over to madness and worship of inhuman gods. You start
> out alone and helpless, but can rise to strike back, and perhaps
> return Earth to humanity!
* * *
(I'm not entirely set up to fiddle with either Java or PPC Mac OS X
apps, so this page will take a little longer for me to iron out.)
The following is an incomplete list of all of the Macintosh Garden
game-development apps:
[AdvSys][1] \- [World Builder][2] \- [AdventureMaker][3] \- [Adventure
Game Toolkit (AGT)][4] \- [Text Adventure Development System
(TADS)][5] \- [Klik & Play][6] \- [Adventure Simulator][7] \-
[Inform][8] \- [GameMaker][9] \- [StoryMaker][10] \- [Adventure
Creator][11] \- [ColdStone][12] \- [Hephaestus][13] \-
[SilverCreator][14] \- [Hugo (Interactive Fiction Development
System)][15]
* * *
Download #1 is a .zip-compressed folder with v2.02 of Hephaestus,
dated 2003 and written in JRE 1.3.
Unfortunately, as the author claims:
> There is no JRE 1.3 port for MacOS 9 or earlier, sorry. There's
> nothing I can do about Apple's abandonment of OS 9: "Apple has no
> plans to provide Java 2 on the Classic Mac OS" is their official
> statement; you'll have to upgrade to MacOS X.
* * *
Compatibility
Architecture: x86 (Intel:Mac)
From Mark Hughes' "Hephaestus Download" web page:
### Download & Installation
1. You must have a 1024x768 display with 16-bit color depth or better, and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), version 1.3 or later.
[...]
MacOS X: You have JRE 1.3 already installed, but can find updated
versions and support at developer.apple.com/java/.
There is no JRE 1.3 port for MacOS 9 or earlier, sorry. There's
nothing I can do about Apple's abandonment of OS 9: "Apple has no
plans to provide Java 2 on the Classic Mac OS" is their official
statement; you'll have to upgrade to MacOS X.
2. Download hephaestus.zip (2.9MB). [DL#1]
3. Unzip hephaestus.zip anywhere on your HD. It will create a directory named "Hephaestus2".
[...]
4. Now start the game:
[...]
MacOS X:
Double-click on `hephaestus.jar`, or open a terminal window and run
`./heph.sh`
[...]
5. Select "Open" from the "Game" menu, and pick "sample/sample.adv", or any other adventure (.adv file) you've downloaded or created. You should see something like the screenshot at the top of this page.
6. That's it! You're ready to play!
[1]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/advsys
[2]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/world-builder-1986
[3]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/adventuremaker
[4]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/adventure-game-toolkit-agt
[5]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/tads-text-adventure-development-system
[6]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/klik-play
[7]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/adventure-simulator
[8]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/inform-630
[9]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/gamemaker
[10]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/storymaker
[11]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/adventure-creator
[12]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/games/coldstone-game-engine
[13]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/hephaestus
[14]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/silvercreator
[15]:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/hugo-interactive-fiction-development-system
